Question

A compass works perfectly:

• A. only in oceans or seas
• B. only on land, where the earth's magnetic field is strong
• C. at all places within the earth's magnetic field
• D. at all places within the earth's magnetic field, except the poles

Answer 1

The correct option is D at all places within the earth's magnetic field, except the poles

A magnetic compass needle tries to align itself with the magnetic field lines. However at magnetic poles, the field lines of force are vertically converging on a region. The strength and direction tends to tilt the compass up or down into the plane of the earth. So the compass works perfectly at all places except the poles.